Al Hilal appears to be on the verge of securing the services of João Cancelo from Manchester City, according to a source familiar with the situation. The Portugal international is expected to make the move to the Saudi Pro League in a deal valued at an initial £21 million ($28m). Notably, Cancelo is rumored to be finalizing a contract that would pay him approximately £15m per year.
It is worth mentioning that Cancelo, aged 30, has not featured for City in over a year and a half, with loan stints at Bayern Munich and Barcelona during this period. Although he did return to the Manchester training grounds this summer, he was conspicuously absent from the squad for the opening two games of the Premier League against Chelsea and Ipswich Town.
Achievements and Career Summary
The seasoned defender has amassed more than 150 appearances for City and played a pivotal role in securing three Premier League titles. Moreover, he received recognition by being named in the PFA Premier League team of the year for both 2021 and 2022. Cancelo’s most recent game for City dates back to January 2023, after which he embarked on a surprising loan move to Bayern Munich. Despite a sojourn with Barcelona last season, financial constraints have prevented them from rekindling their interest this transfer window, thereby paving the way for Al Hilal to make significant strides in acquiring his signature.
Reports indicate that Manchester City are contemplating the addition of another attacking player to their squad before the impending transfer deadline on Friday. Although Pep Guardiola is reportedly content with the return of midfielder Ilkay Gündogan, the departure of Julián Álvarez to Atlético Madrid has prompted the club to explore options in the striking department. While Al Hilal has expressed interest in Cancelo due to the unavailability of Kyle Walker, they have also explored the possibility of pursuing Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
The imminent capture of Cancelo by Al Hilal signifies a significant coup for the Saudi Pro League outfit, as they bolster their defensive ranks with an experienced and versatile player. Manchester City, on the other hand, are poised to make strategic moves in the transfer market to compensate for the departure of key personnel and maintain their competitive edge in the upcoming season.
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